Speech Problems: When to get Help

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked by other parents is when to get help for their child’s articulation problems. Before I touch on that, I wanted to make sure I separate “speech” and “language” in your mind. A child who is having difficulty with language is often having trouble using or understanding words like their peers (2-word combinations by age 2, picking up correct grammar, following directions, understanding or retelling stories, etc.)

A child with speech sound difficulties (“articulation”) is having trouble pronouncing speech sounds (saying sounds like “th” correctly, sequencing sounds together, moving their tongue/lips/mouth precisely enough to be understood). There are numerous causes for these speech difficulties, and the severity also dictates the course of action. But, some general rules for seeking out help: